Down below, something stirred among the trees—a shadow gliding between trunks. Neil’s gaze sharpened, but the movement did not return. Likely a deer, strayed from its herd and picking its cautious way through the garden. The gardeners would find it soon enough and nudge it back towards its companions.
If Lord Bramwell catches Maggie, her life will not be worth living. That is, if he allows her life at all.
Can I truly condemn her to such a fate, merely because I cannot bear to lose her? No. I cannot.
Sighing, Neil turned away from the window and met Simon’s eye squarely.
“Very well, cousin,” he said, his voice low, hollowed out. “We’ll do it your way. We’ll speak with her. Only—not now. Let her enjoy the day. We’ll talk once Emma is abed. After all, I imagine Miss Winter will be gone by morning.”
***
Maggie sat upon a damp stone bench, watching Jenny and Emma chase each other across the lawn. Emma squealed with delight, darting just out of reach of Jenny’s grasping hands, and both collapsed into helpless laughter.
“Did you see, Maggie? Did you see how I escaped her?” Emma cried, beaming. “You are still the chaser, Jenny!”
“Enough, Miss Emma! I am exhausted,” Jenny laughed breathlessly. “You are entirely too swift for me. I must sit and rest a moment.”
“Very well. I shall collect flowers for you both,” Emma declared grandly, before scampering off toward the distant flowerbeds.
Chuckling, Jenny crossed the grass and joined Maggie on the bench. Maggie shifted to make room, and Jenny sat with a weary sigh.
“It is thought likely that Lord and Lady Farendale will depart today,” she remarked.
Maggie glanced at her. “And Lady Constance as well?”
“Oh, certainly. I heard she spoke rather sharply to his Grace at breakfast—Crawford was scandalised. His Grace, of course, bore it with perfect composure. It must be a relief, knowing they’ll soon be gone. We can go back to the way things were. I daresay his Grace detests being cooped up in the house for so long.”
Maggie felt her throat tighten. She cleared it, attempting to swallow past the lump. “He is not usually in the house so much?”
“Oh, no. We often do not see him for days together. Then there are his travels—down to London, then up to Scotland, always on the move! He even goes abroad at times. We used to think that if ever he married, it would be to a lady from some foreign land. Imagine it, Maggie! A fine Italian beauty from Venice or Rome arriving to be our duchess. I think such a woman would suit him, don’t you?”
Maggie felt faintly ill. Her thoughts had not strayed from Neil’s kiss—the warmth of it, the way his fingertips had brushed her cheek.
Did he mean it? Did he mean any of it?
It did not matter, of course. He had no notion who she truly was—not the faintest idea, for she had never told him.
“Maggie?” Jenny prompted softly. Maggie glanced at her and saw, in her friend’s perceptive gaze, that Jenny had already guessed far more than Maggie wished her to know.
Maggie swallowed. Jenny leaned forward and caught her wrist.
“There is something,” she said carefully, “that you are not telling me, my friend.”
Maggie closed her eyes. “I… I fear I have let my heart get away from me. Mrs Thornton warned me against it.”
Jenny gave a wry little smile. “She warned me too—and I did not listen either. What a pair of fools we are, falling in love with gentlemen so far above us!”
So, Jennydidknow. Of course she did. Maggie had long suspected that Jenny was far cleverer than most nursemaids—sharp-eyed and keen, missing nothing. If Mrs Thornton had noticed Maggie’s glances toward Neil, Jenny surely had as well.
Suddenly, Maggie felt wretchedly foolish. Her very skin seemed to tighten, constricting her chest.
“Falling in love with a duke,” she muttered bitterly, springing to her feet and pacing. “They call him the Gambling Devil, for goodness’ sake—and I go and lose my heart to him!”
“Has something happened?” Jenny inquired, frowning.
Maggie sighed. She ought to tell Jenny about the kiss—shewouldtell her—but first, she must confess the truth at last: who she truly was, and what had happened in London.
It is only fair that Jenny should hear it first,she told herself. Drawing a deep breath, she began.
